Self-cleaning monitoring system for biomass processing

Abstract

A self-contained monitoring assembly and method of self-cleaning for monitoring a process fluid. The assembly and method includes a closed loop of fluid flow having at least one housing having a sensor chamber, a sensor positioned within the sensor chamber, an injection nozzle receiving the process fluid through an inlet fluid passage and discharging the process fluid through an outlet passage into the sensor chamber, and a drain passage. The injection nozzle is positioned at an oblique angle relative to a contact surface of the sensor such that the contact surface is impinged by the process fluid. Impingement by the process fluid against the contact surface allows measurement of the process fluid by the sensor and cleans the contact surface.

1 . A self-contained monitoring assembly for monitoring a process fluid comprising:
 at least one housing defining a sensor chamber configured to receive a flow of the process fluid;   a sensor positioned within the sensor chamber and having a contact surface configured to measure a fluid characteristic of the process fluid;   an injection nozzle having an inlet fluid passage receiving a predetermined amount of process fluid and an outlet fluid passage discharging the predetermined amount of process fluid into the sensor chamber, the injection nozzle positioned at an oblique angle relative to the contact surface such that the contact surface is impinged by the process fluid; and   a drain passage for removing the predetermined amount of process fluid from the sensor chamber;   wherein impingement by the process fluid against the contact surface of the sensor allows measurement of the process fluid by the sensor and cleans the contact surface by simultaneously reducing and removing debris build up.   
     
     
         2 . The self-contained monitoring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet fluid passage is positioned externally to the at least one housing. 
     
     
         3 . The self-contained monitoring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the injection nozzle is positioned at an angle between approximately 20° and 45°, wherein 0° is parallel to the contact surface and 90° is perpendicular to the contact surface 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The self-contained monitoring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drain passage is positioned at a lowest point in the sensor chamber, the drain passage positioned at an end of the at least one housing spaced apart from the contact surface of the sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The self-contained monitoring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drain passage and the sensor are positioned along a common axis of the at least one housing. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The self-contained monitoring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one housing comprises a plurality of housings, each of the plurality of housings having a corresponding injection nozzle, sensor, and drain passage according to any of  claims 1 - 7 . 
     
     
         9 . The self-contained monitoring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drain passage is throttled for controlling an amount of process fluid located in the sensor chamber. 
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The self-contained monitoring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor chamber has an air bleed port for controlling fluid level in the sensor chamber. 
     
     
         13 . A fluid monitoring system including the self-contained monitoring assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a fluid source, wherein the predetermined amount of process fluid is withdrawn from the fluid source.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 13 , wherein the self-contained monitoring assembly is located remotely from the fluid source. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a pump in fluid communication between the fluid source and the inlet fluid passage of the injection nozzle for pumping the predetermined amount of the process fluid from the fluid source to the nozzle. 
 
     
     
         16 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid source is one of a fluid cultivation system, a waste water system, a natural water source, and a process fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an output screen for displaying a measured value of the fluid characteristic of the process fluid, wherein the output screen includes wireless communication or a wired output to an auxiliary display and recording device. 
 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of self-cleaning a sensor in a monitoring assembly for a process fluid comprising the steps of:
 receiving a predetermined amount of process fluid into an inlet fluid passage of an injection nozzle;   injecting the predetermined amount of process fluid from an outlet fluid passage of the injection nozzle into a sensor chamber housing the sensor, the sensor having a contact surface for measuring a fluid characteristic of the process fluid, wherein the contact surface is cleaned by impingement of the process fluid at an oblique angle from the injection nozzle; and   removing the predetermined amount of process fluid from the sensor chamber via a drain passage.   
     
     
         20 . The self-cleaning method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 positioning the injection nozzle at an angle between approximately 20° and 45°, wherein 0° is parallel to the contact surface and 90° is perpendicular to the contact surface. 
 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The self-cleaning method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 positioning the drain passage at a lowest point in the sensor chamber, the drain passage spaced apart from the contact surface of the sensor. 
 
     
     
         23 . The self-cleaning method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 positioning the drain passage and the sensor along a common axis of the sensor chamber. 
 
     
     
         24 . The self-cleaning method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 displaying a measured value of the fluid characteristic of the process fluid on an output screen using wireless communication or a wired output to an auxiliary display and recording device. 
 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The self-cleaning method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 adjusting the injection nozzle to control a flow rate of the predetermined amount of process fluid into the sensor chamber. 
 
     
     
         27 . The self-cleaning method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 withdrawing the fluid from one of an algae cultivation pond, a wastewater flocculation and clarification tank, and an equalization tank for dewatering filtrate.